Mountain Lion Killed on 405 Freeway, One Day Before Wildlife Crossing Groundbreaking

A mountain lion known as P-22, in the Griffith Park area near downtown Los Angeles in November 2014. U.S. National Park Service via AP

BRENTWOOD, Calif.—A mountain lion was fatally struck by a vehicle Thursday on the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Brentwood area, highlighting the dangers facing the big cats living amid a maze of freeways and the reasoning behind a major wildlife crossing that will break ground Friday.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol received a call just before 1 a.m about an animal lying on the southbound 405 Freeway south of the Getty Center Drive exit. Officers briefly closed the freeway to move the cat out of the freeway lanes.